Hat-pouncing machine and the like



. K. REYNOLDS HAT POUNGING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Flled June 10, 1926 QZ//// M/L/j j Jail. 29, 1929.

BY KW 6M Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH K. REYNOLDS, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-POUNCING MACHINE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 10,

This invenmon relates to machines used in hatmanufacture, such, for example, as hat pouncing machines.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of the above nature wherein the hats operated upon are presented to the operating tool or tools in an efficient and throughly dependable manner. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character having means for supporting a rotating hat in such a manner that uniform action thereon is insured. Another object is to provide means of the above nature adapted to support the hat so that all parts thereof intended to be operated upon are brought into proper engagement with the tool or tools. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature which is simple and compact and easily made. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 shows the pouncing pads of a hat brim pouncing machine and a hat supported in operative relation thereto, and

Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in both views of the drawing.

Refi ring now to the drawing in detail, there shown diagrammatically a pair of tools 10 and 11 which, in this instance, are pounring tools and are adapted to operate upon the brims of felt hats. These pouncing tools 10 and 11 are shown mounted upon the outer ends of arms 12 and 13 respectively and their drive is not shown herein since it forms no part of the present invention. Adjacent to the pouncing tools 10 and 11 shown a hat 14 with the brim 14c thereof in position between the two pouncing tools or pads to be operated upon thereby. It will be understood that the pads 10 and 11 are rapidly reciprocated in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow in Figure 2, the two pads preferably moving in opposite directions and pouncing the two sides of the hat brim. The hat is rotatably 1926. Serial N0. 114,922.

supported as will be described presently, and is rotated preferably, in this brim pouncing machine, by means of driven feed rollers 15 which are indicated in Figure The brim 14 is gripped between pair of these feed rollers lewhich rotate the hat in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, drawing the brim 14. through between the pouncing pads.

The hat 14, while being operated upon, 18 preferably stretched over and supported upon a hat block 16. The hat block closely fits the interior of the crown of the hat, the hat having been stretched to shape upon this hat block or upon one substantially identical therewith. The feed rollers 15, therefore. gripping the brim of the hat and drawing it through between the pouncmg pads, rotate the hat block 16. The hat block shown is of the usual construction, being made of wood and having a central hub 17 in which is a central recess 18. Preferably this recess 18 is provided with a metal bushing 19 to afford better wearing qualities. The hat block and hat are of oval shape and the recess 18 therein is positioned substantially at the center thereof or at the intersection of the major and minor axes of the oval.

The hat block is supportetd. through its hub 17 upon a member 20, the flange 19 of the bushing 1.9 resting upon a. projecting shoulder 21. The member 520 has a spindle portion 22 which enters the bushing 19 and thus holds the hat block in position and waters the hat block for rotation upon the supporting shoulder 21.

The hat block supporting n'i-einl'iei" 20 carried. in a member 23 which is preferably a substantially upright shaft or rod pivoted at its lower end 24 for swinging movement of its upper end toward and away from, the pouncing pads. Suitable means such as a weight 25 acting through a cord 26 over a pulley 27 serves to urge the member 23 to swing toward the pouncing pads. Hence the hat block, carried at the upper end. of the member 23 is urged inwardly towardv the pouncing tools, this inward movement being limited by the band portion of the hat com against the outer end of the upper pad 10. As the oval hat rotates, the distance between its axis of rotation and the pouncing tools is continually changing and hence the hat swings bodily about the pivot 24 toward and away from the tools.

urge of the counter weight 25. This device preferably takes the form of an arm 32 which is pivoted at 33 upon an upright 34C. The upright 34 may be mounted conveniently upon a bracket which extends outwardly from the bracket 29. The upright 34*. and the arm 32 carried thereby are thus stationary not reciprocating with the pouncinp; pads. In Figure 1 the arm 32 is shown swuns back into inoperative position, in which posit-ion it may be held conveniently by a projection 36 of the arm 32. To place the arm 32 in operative position, it is simply swung forwardly about its pivot 33 to a horizontal position wherein it may be supported by a projection 37.

Referring to Figure 2, the arm 32 is shown swung into operative position and holding the hat 14. away from the pouncing pads so that the brim does not enter completely within the pads. As shown in Figure 2, the arm 32 is provided with an angular projection 32 which has a curved face 32" against which the hat bears. This curved surface 32" engages the crown of the hat adjacent to the band portion thereoi. In the operation of the machine, the hat may be given a few turns with the stop 32 in operative position to pounce the brim only at the outer portions thereof, and thereupon the arm 32 may be moved to inoperative position for pouncing of the brim throughout its entire width.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that the matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a support for a hat, a tool :ulapted to operate upon the brim of a hat mounted on said support, means adapted to give said bat an up and down movement as is operated upon, and means adapted substantially to counterbalance the force of gravity upon said hat.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to rotatably support a hat block, a tool adapted to opcrate upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said hat block with said hat thereon, adapted to give said hat block an up and down movement as it is rotated, and means adapted substantially to counterbalance the weight of said hat block and the parts which move up and down there vith.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to support a hat block for rotation about a substantially upright axis, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said hat block with said hat thereon about said substantially upright axis, means adapted to liift and lower said hat'block substantially longitudinally of its axis of r0- on, and means for substantially counterbalancing the weight or said hat block and the parts liited and lowered therewith.

d. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to support a hat block in substantially upright position and having a spindle adapted to enter a recess in the bottom of said hat block, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said hat block about the axis of said spindle, means adapted to raise and lower said supporting); means during rotation of said hat, and means adapted substantially to counterbalance the weight of said supporting means and said hat block and said hat carried thereby.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to support a hat block in substantially upright position and having a spindle adapted to enter a recess in the bottom of said hat block, a tool adapted to operate. upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said has block about the axis oi said spindle, a member carrying said hat block supporting member and in which said supporting member is slidable in a direction substantially lengthwise of the axis of rotation of said hat, and a spring urging said supporting membar to move in said last member in a direction to lift said hat block.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to support a hat block in substantially upright position for rotation and up and down movement substantially lengthwise of its axis of rotation, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said hat block as said hat thereon is operated upon by said tool, means adapted to guide said rotatinghat block to give it an up and down movemc t as it is rotated, and means adapted substantially to counterbalance the weight oi. said hat block.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to support a hat block in substantially upright position for rotation and up and down movement substantially lengthwise of its axis of rotation, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat carried by said hat block, means adapted to rotate said hat block as said hat thereon is operated upon by said tool, a member ad-- jacent said tool across which the bottom surface of said hat block moves during rotation thereof, and means adapted substan tially to counterbalance the weight of said hat block. 7

8. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat, a support adjacent said tool movable toward and away from said tool, means urging said support toward said tooi, means upon said support adapted to support a hat block in substantially upright position for rotation and up and down movement sub stantially lengthwise of axis of rotation, means adapted to rotate said but block, means adapt d to said rotatii hat block an up and down movement, and means adapted substantially to counterbalance the weight of said hat block upon said supportin means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat, a substantially upright member mounted to swing toward and away from said tool, a support adjacent the upper end of said member adapted to support a hat block for rotation adjacent said tool, said support being slidable upwardly and down- Wardly in said member, means for rotating: said hat block, means adapted duringsaid rotation to give said support and said but block therewith and up and down movement 1 and spring means interposed between sad itc ,l member and said support urging upwa 51y said support and said hat block thereon.

10. In apparatus of the class (lQSilllJQtl, in combination, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat, a sul'istamially upright member mounted to swing toward and away from said tool, a support adjacent the upper end of said member adapted to support a hat block for rotation adjacent said tool. said support being slida'ble upwardly'and downwardly in said member, means for rotating said hat block. means adapted to guide said rotating bat block to give it an up and down movement, and spring means urging said hat block support upwardly in said member.

11. In apparatus of the class dosoribed, in combination, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat, a substantially upright member mounted to swing toward and away "from said tool, a support adjacent the upper end of said member adapted to support a hat block for rotation adjacent said tool. said support being slidable upwardly and downwardly in said member, means for rotating; said but block, means adjacent said tool across which the bottom surface of said hat block moves during rotation, and spring means urging said but block support up wardly in said member.

12. In apparatus of the c ass described, in combination, a tool adapted to operate upon a hat, a substantially upright member mount-ed to swing toward and away from said tool, a support adjacent the upper end of said member adapted to support a hat block for rotation adjacent said tool. said St pport bein slidable upwardly and downwardly in said menriber, means for rotating said hat block, means adjawnt said tool across which the bottom surface oil said hat block moves during rotation, spring means urging said but block support u prardly in saic member, and means for limit the upward movement of said hat block support under the urge of said spring; means 13. In apparatus of the class deszrihcu, in combination, means adapted rotntab y to support a hat, a

reciprocating}; tool adapted to operate upon the brim of said hat, means adapted to rotate said hat, means adapted to urge said hat toward s id r to ur the brim into engagement w: [11 said tool a member with respect to which said toot reciprocates and havi. an elongated curved surface adapted to engage the crown of said but to limit the n'iovement of said h at tmvard said tool, said men'lber being movable into and out of operative position.

14;. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted rotatably to support a hat, a pair of reciprocating pounclnggg pads adapted to receive the brim oi said hat therebetween and operate thereon,

means adapted to rotate said hat to feed said brim between said pads, means for urging, said hat toward said pads, and a device mounted. indepcmlintly of said reiprocating padi-i adapted to engage the crown of said hat :uljaceut the band and limit the mmement of said but toward said pads so as to enable said pads to operate upon the outer portions only of said brim.

In testimony whereof. I have signer! my name to this specification this 1st day of June, 1926.

RiiLPH K. REYNOLDS. 

